Electric switch



Nov. 6 1923. 1,472,800

s. D; LIVINGSTON ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 12 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l ORA/E Y Nov. 6, 1923.

s. D. LIVINGSTON ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 12 1.920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STANLEY D. LIVINGSTON, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONNECTI- CUT TELEPHONE &; ELECTRIC COMTPANY INC., OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A.

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC swrrcri.

Application filed March 12,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STANLEY D. LIVING- STON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Meriden, Connecticut, have invented new and useful Electrical Switches,

of which the following is a specification.

. My invention relates particularly to a construction intended to be used in an automobile lighting and ignition system.

My main object is to provide a com act inexpensive but reliable mechanism. nother object is to so construct and arrange the parts that the switch may be readily wired. Another object is to provide a construction which can be used either with a dimming resistance or with a double set of lights. Another object is to provide a construction of this character with an automatic switch which can be readily removed or replaced when necessary.

In its preferred form, the switch casing comprises a front plate, a back plate, and a spacing shell. The stationary switch contacts are carried by theback plate, and the 25 operating levers are carried by the front plate. The automatic switch is carried by a separate base detachably secured to the back plate, but has an operating button or plunger extending through the front plate. The dimming resistance and fuses when employed are carried by the rear of theback plate. All the'external circuit connections are effected at the rear of the back plate.

Fig. 1 is afront view of a construction, embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view and partial section of the same.

Fig. 3 isfa plan view of the same.

It will be understood however that the mechanism can be used in the position shown or in any other position.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the front plate with its attached switch lever.

Fig, 5 is a front view of the rear plate with the switch contacts and springs.

Fig. 6 is a section on the plane of-the line 6-6 of Fig-5.

Fig. 7 is a rear View of the switch.

Fig. 8 is a plan view with the casing removed. and showing only the dimming switch.

1920. Serial No. 365,158.

Fig. 9 is a similar plan view showing the automatic switch and the ignition switch.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View showing the lighting and ignition circuits with a dimming resistance and fuse.

Fig. v11 is a similar View showing two sets of lights and omitting the fuse and dimming resistance.

The front plate 14 is preferably of metal and the back plate 15 preferably of inSulat ing material in which the various bushings and studs for the switch parts may be imbedded. A casing or shell 16 spaces the two plates apart and encloses the switch mechanism. The front and back plates are connected together by screws, such as 17 and 17, which pass through the front plate and are seated in bushings 18 in the back plate. Additional screws 19, 19 may be employed, seated in bushings 20, 20.

The main ignition switch member 21 is adapted to be operated by a key 22 and has a lever arm 23 in the rear, carrying the contact member 24. The member 21 is pivotally mounted in a housing 25 secured to the front plate, for instance, by two screws, such as 26. A face plate 27 may be employed, let into a recessed portion of the front plate 14 and covering the screws 19 and 26.

The main line switch lever 28 is pivotally carried by the back of the front plate, and the dimming switch lever 29 is pivotally carried in a similar manner. These levers carry contact members 30 and 31 respectively.

The ignition contacts 32 and. 33 are in the form of spring arms spaced apart from each other so as to receive the contact member 24. A C-shaped sp-ringj34 is located between the contacts 32 and 33, and engaged by the beveled end of the contact lever 23-, I

so as to yieldingly hold the contact lever in the on or off position. The ends of this spring are located in recesses 35 in front of the back plate. This avoids the; necessity for the use of attachi screws.

1- The contacts 36 and? for themain light ing switch are spaced apart from each other, so as to receive the contact member 30, and between them is located a spring 38, similar to 34, with which the lever 28 engages.

F the lever 29, which carries the contact member 31, adapted to be swung'from the contact 40 to contact 41. The contact 39 has two portions respectively opposite the contacts 40 and 41, and is connected to thecontact 37 by a cross bar 43.

The automatic switch base 44 is preferably of insulating material and carries a thermostatic member 45, surrounded by a heating coil 45' connected to the binding screw or terminal 46. The automatic switch also has a spring pressed plunger 47, carrying a contact pin 47' which normally engages the tip of the hook of the thermostatic member 45. The base of the automatic switch is shaped to fit the recess 48 in the rear of the back plate. It is removably held in place by one or more screws, such as 49. The plunger housing fits in a bushing 50 of insulating material, which is adapted to be inserted from the rear into an opening 51 in the front plate. A connector 52 extends from the terminal 53 of the automatic switch to the ignition switch terminal 54 at the rear.

A fuse 55 is secured to the rear of the back plate and provided with terminals 56 and 57. The terminal 56 is connected to the contact 32 of the ignition switch, and the terminal 57 is connected to the contact 36 of the main lighting switch.

A resistance coil 58 is connected to the terminals 59 and 60 at the rear of the back plate. The terminal 59 is connected to switch contact 40, and terminal 60 is connected to switch contact 41.

The construction thus far described would be connected as shown in the diagram of Fig. 10, where the battery 61 is connected to terminal 56 at one side and rounded on the other. The terminal 62, w ich is com nected to the contact 37 and to the cross bar 43 is connected to the tail light 63, which is rounded. The terminal 59 is connected to t e head light or head lights 64. The automatic switch terminal 46 is connected to the ignition coil 65, and thence to the timer and distributor 66 and to the spark plugs in the usual manner. When. the switch lever 28 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, its contact member 30 stands between the contacts 36 and 37, at which time, it will be seen from the diagram of Fig. 10, the tail light 63 will be on. With the switch lever 29 in the position shown in Fig. 1, its contact member 31 would stand between the contacts 39 and 40, so that the circuit will run from the crossbar 43 through contacts 39 and 40 direct to the head lights, giving their maximum brilliancy. By throwin the switch lever 29 to the right, (as viewe in Fig. 1), the contact member 31 will stand between the contacts 39 and 41, in which event the current will pass through the resistance coil 58. This will, of course, reduce the brilliancy of the light and cut down the current consumption.

The fuse 55 may be omitted and the terminal 57 connected directly to the battery or through a meter 67, as shown in Fig. 11.

The dimming resistance 58 may also be omitted and small auxiliary bulbs or side lights, such as 68, may be connected directly to the terminal 60, as shown in Fig. 11. In this case, when the switch connects the con tacts 39 and 40, the main head lights will be on, and when the switch is thrown so as to connect the contacts 39 and 41, the smaller lights will be on.

I claim:

1. In an electric switch, an insulating base having a recess in the rear, an automatic switch detachably mounted in said recess, a pair of switch contacts on the front of said base, a key-operated switch lever co-acting with said contacts, and a connection between one of said switch contacts and said automatic switch 2. In an electric switch, an insulating back plate, two separate contact arms arranged in the same plane, one end of each arm being secured to said back plate, a double contact arm supported at its central portion and having free ends. extending parallel to the free ends of the first two mentioned contact arms, a hinged switch member mounted to swing between said contact arms, and a bow spring mounted between said double contact arm and said other arms and engaging a part of said hinged switch member.

3. In an electric switch, an insulating back plate, two parallel contact arms carried thereby, a bow spring mounted between said arms, a face plate, means for securing said plates together, and a switch member hinged to said face plate and engaging said spring between the contact arms.

4. In a switch, an insulating base having two recesses, a C-shaped spring having its two ends seated in said recesses, a contact adjacent thereto, and a contact lever engaging said spring and adapted to engage sald contact.

5. In a switch, a front plate, an insulating back plate, a spacing shell, two oppositel disposed switch contacts carried by the bac plate and projecting toward the front plate, a spring between said contacts, and a switch lever pivotally carried by said front plate and having a contact member adapted to be swung between said contacts and having the rear end engaging said spring.

6. In a switch, a front late, a back plate, two oppositely disposed switch contacts carried by the back plate and projecting toward the front plate, a spring between said contacts, and a switch lever pivotally carried by said front plate and having a contact member adapted to be swung be 5 tween said contacts and having its rear end beveled and engaging said spring.

7. In a switch, a front plate, a switch lever carried thereby, an insulating back plate, a switch carried thereby, an automatic safety device having a setting button, an insulating base therefor, means for detachably securing said base in said back plate, and an insulating guide forsaid setting button in said front plate.

STANLEY D. LIVINGSTON, 

